Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Forest Lake EDA recommends Elm Crest corridor cooperative agreement to council
Summary
The Forest Lake Economic Development Authority voted to recommend that the city council approve a cooperative agreement to study and design the Elm Crest Avenue segment of the Minnesota Technology Corridor, aiming to coordinate four cities and two county EDAs on a regional roadway plan and funding formula.
The Forest Lake Economic Development Authority on Monday voted to recommend that the city council approve a cooperative agreement to study and design the Elm Crest Avenue portion of the Minnesota Technology Corridor.
Abby, a city staff member presenting the item, said the Minnesota Technology Corridor—formed in 2018 among four cities, Anoka and Washington county development agencies and utilities—aims to market the corridor for higher‑quality commercial development and to coordinate a regional design for Elm Crest Avenue. "In 2018, the City Of Forest Lake, along with other I‑35 corridor communities... formed an economic development initiative known as the Minnesota Technology Corridor," Abby said.
Staff described the draft cooperative agreement as a mechanism for the participating cities and county economic development agencies to agree on a consultant scope, a funding formula and a professional services contract to create a unified corridor design. Commissioners asked how cost sharing would be handled and why the signatories differ between Anoka and Washington County; staff said cost shares have not been finalized and that Washington County’s Community Development Authority acts as the county’s EDA while Anoka County uses county staff.
After discussion, a member moved to send the cooperative agreement to the city council for recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. President Erickson and staff said the next steps include forming any necessary funding and scope committees and taking the corridor plan to regional partners to pursue long‑range planning and funding opportunities.
Why it matters: a coordinated corridor design would help the four cities and two county EDAs present a unified plan to state and regional transportation and planning agencies, potentially improving access to state aid construction dollars and making the corridor more competitive for grants and private investment. The EDA emphasized that the funding formula remains to be detailed and that counties may contribute predevelopment dollars.
The EDA’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Forest Lake City Council for consideration in January; staff said they expect further committee work on funding and scope before formal council action.
